Method and apparatus for controlling uplink power in wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for controlling uplink power in a wireless communication system are provided. The method for controlling uplink power of a User Equipment (UE) forming a transmission link with a plurality of BSs (BSs), a power headroom report trigger event by at least one of the plurality of BSs is detected. Power headroom information of the UE is reported to at least one of the plurality of BSs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 16/670,335 filed on Oct. 31, 2019, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,834,682 on Nov. 10, 2020 and is a continuation application of priorapplication Ser. No. 16/144,273 filed on Sep. 27, 2018, which has issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 10,531,396 on Jan. 7, 2020 and is a continuationapplication of prior application Ser. No. 15/439,421, filed on Feb. 22,2017, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,142,940 on Nov. 27, 2018,which is a continuation application of prior application Ser. No.14/268,783, filed on May 2, 2014, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,603,098 on Mar. 21, 2017 and was based on and claimed priority under35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean patent application number10-2013-0049455, filed on May 2, 2013, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office and a Korean patent application number 10-2014-0053393,filed on May 2, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, theentire disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to controlling uplink power in a wirelesscommunication system. More particularly, the present disclosure relatesto a method and an apparatus for reporting uplink power of a MobileStation (MS).

BACKGROUND

A Base Station (BS) performs scheduling using power headroom informationof an MS in order to efficiently utilize resources of the MS in awireless communication system. That is, when the MS provides powerheadroom information to the BS, the BS may estimate maximum uplinktransmission power supportable by the MS based on the power headroominformation of the MS, and perform control uplink power using such itemsas Transmit Power Control (TPC), a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS)level, a bandwidth, etc. within a range that does not depart from theestimated uplink maximum transmission power.

A network structure that offloads explosively increasing data byadditionally installing a small cell network to an existing wirelesscommunication system, such as, a macro cellular network withconsideration of a phenomenon that an amount of mobile traffic dataincreases rapidly is widely used.

For example, a structure that additionally installs a plurality of BSshaving a small cell whose transmission region is small, such as a picocell or a femto cell to a cell region of a macro BS is being provided.In this case, a User Equipment (UE) may wirelessly connect to the macroBS and a small BS simultaneously, and perform uplink transmission to aplurality of BSs that are being connected wirelessly. However, in therelated art, only a power headroom report method for controlling uplinktransmission power of a UE in the case where the UE is being connectedto one BS is provided, and a power headroom report method forcontrolling uplink transmission power of a UE in the case where the UEis being connected to a plurality of BSs has not been provided. Also, inthe case where a plurality of BSs perform wireless resource allocation,the wireless resource allocation is correlated complexly by the mediumof the UE, so that complexity for optimizing wireless resourceallocation is increased. Furthermore, optimization via real-timeinformation sharing between BSs is required. However, when a circuit(X2) between BSs is actually implemented, a delay time is generated, sothat performance deteriorates.

Therefore, an uplink power headroom report method of a UE connected to aplurality of BSs needs to be provided.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentdisclosure is to provide a power headroom report method of a UserEquipment (UE) and an apparatus thereof in a wireless communicationsystem where one UE supports a transmission link for a plurality of BaseStations (BSs) simultaneously.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and anapparatus for detecting a power headroom changed by uplink scheduling ofa specific BS, and reporting the changed power headroom to at least oneof the specific BS and another BS in a wireless communication systemwhere a UE supports a transmission link for a plurality of BSssimultaneously.

Still another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a methodand an apparatus for detecting a power headroom report trigger event byat least one BS, and reporting the detected power headroom to at leastone BS from which the power headroom report trigger event has beendetected and/or another BS in a wireless communication system where a UEsupports a transmission link for a plurality of BSs simultaneously.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method andan apparatus for distributing uplink maximum transmission power of a UEto a plurality of BSs that are being connected in a wirelesscommunication system where the UE supports a transmission link for theplurality of BSs simultaneously.

Yet still another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide amethod and an apparatus for distributing uplink maximum transmissionpower based on Aggregated Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR), a path loss, abandwidth, and a weight factor for each of a plurality of BSs that arebeing connected in a wireless communication system where a UE supports atransmission link for the plurality of BSs simultaneously.

Yet further another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide amethod and an apparatus for adjusting uplink transmission powerdistributed to each BS to which a UE is being connected based on a dataamount of an uplink buffer for a relevant BS in a wireless communicationsystem where the UE supports a transmission link for a plurality of BSssimultaneously.

Still further another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide amethod and an apparatus for transmitting, at a BS, information requiredfor controlling a power headroom report of a UE using a Radio ResourceControl (RRC) message in a wireless communication system where the UEsupports a transmission link for a plurality of BSs simultaneously.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a method forcontrolling uplink power of a UE forming a transmission link with aplurality of BSs in a wireless communication system is provided. Themethod includes detecting a power headroom report trigger event by atleast one of the plurality of BSs, and reporting power headroominformation of the UE to at least one of the plurality of BSs.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method ofa BS, for controlling uplink power of a UE forming a transmission linkwith a plurality of BSs in a wireless communication system is provided.The method includes forming a transmission link with the UE, andreceiving a message reporting power headroom information from the UE,wherein the message reporting the power headroom information may bereceived by a power headroom report trigger by at least one of theplurality of BSs.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present disclosure, anapparatus for controlling uplink power of a UE forming a transmissionlink with a plurality of BSs in a wireless communication system isprovided. The apparatus includes a transceiver configured to form thetransmission link with the plurality of BSs to transmit/receive asignal, and a power headroom report controller configured to detect apower headroom report trigger event by at least one of the plurality ofBSs, and control to report power headroom information of the UE to atleast one of the plurality of BSs.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, anapparatus of a BS, for controlling uplink power of a UE forming atransmission link with a plurality of BSs in a wireless communicationsystem is provided. The apparatus includes a transceiver configured toform a transmission link with the UE to transmit/receive a signal, and ascheduler configured to receive a message reporting power headroominformation from the UE via the transceiver, wherein the messagereporting the power headroom information may be received by a powerheadroom report trigger by at least one of the plurality of BSs.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a wireless communication system where amacro cell and a small cell coexist according to the related art;

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating a procedure that exchanges power headroominformation of a User Equipment (UE) between Base Stations (BSs) in awireless communication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating a detailed procedure that transmits powerheadroom information of UE in a wireless communication system accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a signal flow performing a power headroomreport on a plurality of BSs to which a UE is being wirelessly connectedin a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a view illustrating a detailed signal flow performing a powerheadroom report on a plurality of BSs to which a UE is being wirelesslyconnected in a wireless communication system according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure that performsa power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which a UE is beingwirelessly connected in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a BS, forreceiving a power headroom report from a UE in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating an example that distributes maximumtransmission power to a plurality of BSs to which a UE is beingwirelessly connected in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a view illustrating an example that adjusts transmissionpower distributed to a plurality of BSs to which a UE is beingwirelessly connected in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a signal flow where a UE distributes andadjusts maximum transmission power with respect to a plurality of BSs towhich the UE is being wirelessly connected, and performing a powerheadroom report based on this in a wireless communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure where a UEdistributes and adjusts maximum transmission power with respect to aplurality of BSs to which the UE is being wirelessly connected, andperforms a power headroom report based on this in a wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7B is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a BS, forreceiving a power headroom report from a UE in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7C is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure where a UEadjusts uplink transmission power distribution for a plurality of BSs towhich the UE is being wirelessly connected in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a signal flow where a BS distributesmaximum transmission power of a UE and the UE performs a power headroomreport on a plurality of BSs to which the UE is being wirelesslyconnected in a wireless communication system according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure where a UEperforms a power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which the UEis being wirelessly connected based on maximum transmission powerdistribution information received from a BS in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure where a BSdistributes maximum transmission power of a UE and receives a powerheadroom report in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operation procedure where a BSdistributes and adjusts maximum transmission power of a UE, and the UEperforms a power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which the UEis being wirelessly connected based on this in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an operation procedure where a BSdistributes and adjusts maximum transmission power of a UE, and the UEperforms a power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which the UEis being wirelessly connected based on this in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a UE and a BS forming a wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of variousembodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the various embodiments describedherein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thepresent disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functionsand constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for thepurpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure propose an alternative forefficiently using uplink transmission power in the case where one UserEquipment (UE) uses a plurality of links for a plurality of BaseStations (BSs) simultaneously.

Hereinafter, the present specification describes a portion ofembodiments with reference to various drawings. It is noted that likereference numerals are used for like elements even though they areillustrated in different drawings in adding reference numerals toelements of each drawing. Also, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

Also, in describing elements of the present specification, terminologiessuch as a first, a second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. Theseterminologies are used only for the purpose of discriminating oneelement from another element, and the essence of a relevant element isnot limited to a sequence or an order by those terminologies. In thecase where a certain element is “connected”, “coupled”, or “joined” toanother element, it should be understood that the element may bedirectly connected or joined to another element but still anotherelement may be “connected”, “coupled”, or “joined” between thoseelements.

Also, the present specification describes a wireless communicationnetwork as an object, and an operation performed in a wirelesscommunication network may be performed during a process of controlling anetwork and transmitting data in a system (for example, a BS) havingcontrol over a relevant wireless communication network, or an operationmay be performed at a UE that has coupled to a relevant wirelessnetwork.

A wireless communication system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure includes a plurality of BSs. Each BS provides acommunication service for a specific geographic area (generally called acell). A cell may be divided into a plurality of regions (or sectors)again.

A Mobile Station (MS) may be fixed or have mobility, and may be calleddifferent terminologies such as a UE, a Mobile Terminal (MT), a UserTerminal (UT), a Subscriber Station (SS), a wireless device, a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a handheld device, etc.

A BS generally denotes a fixed station communicating with a mobilestation, and may be called different terminologies such as evolved-NodeB (eNB), a Base Transceiver System (BTS), an Access Point (AP), etc. Acell should be construed as having a comprehensive meaning representinga portion of a region covered by a BS, and having a meaning includingany of a mega cell, a macro cell, a micro cell, a pico cell, a femtocell, etc.

Hereinafter, the term “downlink” denotes communication from a BS to amobile station, and the term “uplink” denotes communication from amobile station to a BS. In the downlink, a transmitter may be a portionof a BS, and a receiver may be a portion of a mobile station. In theuplink, a transmitter may be a portion of a mobile station, and areceiver may be a portion of a BS.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a wireless communication system where amacro cell and a small cell coexist according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure exemplarilydescribes a wireless communication system where a plurality of BSshaving different cell sizes coexist. For example, the embodiment of thepresent disclosure exemplarily describes a wireless communication systemwhere a macro cell 100 and a small cell 110 coexist. However,embodiments described below are equally applicable to a case where an MSsupports wireless connection for a plurality of BSs simultaneously in awireless communication system including a plurality of BSs having thesame cell size.

Also, hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure exemplarilydescribes a case where one UE 120 supports wireless connection for twoBSs, that is, supports dual connectivity. For example, the embodimentexemplarily describes a case where the UE 120 forms wireless links for aBS (referred to as a ‘macro BS’, hereinafter) of one macro cell 100 anda BS (referred to as a ‘small BS’, hereinafter) of one small cell 110,simultaneously. However, the present disclosure is equally applicable toa case of forming a plurality of wireless links for a plurality of macroBSs, a case of forming a plurality of wireless links for a plurality ofsmall BSs, a case of forming a plurality of wireless links for one macroBS and a plurality of small BSs, and a case of forming a plurality ofwireless links for a plurality of macro BSs and one small BS. Here, thefact that the UE 120 supports wireless connection for a plurality of BSsor forms wireless links for a plurality of BSs may mean a state wherethe UE 120 may receive a service via a control channel and/or a datachannel from each of the plurality of BSs.

Also, the following description assumes a circumstance where a macro BSamong the macro BS and a small BS to which a UE is being connectedoperates as a master BS to control other small BSs inside the system,and a case where a UE receives control information related to a powerheadroom report from the master BS is exemplarily described. However,depending on a design scheme, the system may operate under independentcontrol of the small BS, and in this case, the UE may receive controlinformation related to power headroom report from the small BS.

Generally, maximum transmission power of an MS that uses a wirelesscommunication technology is limited. The maximum use power of the MSthat uses the wireless communication technology is limited by agovernment regulation, etc., and a maximum use power value may bedifferently set depending on regulations of each country. Therefore, theMS reports a Power Headroom (PH) amount to a serving BS via a controlelement of a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer in order to communicatewith a macro BS and a small BS inside limited power, and a BS performsuplink scheduling based on a power headroom amount of the MS. Here, thepower headroom amount means additionally available extra power besidespower which the MS currently uses for uplink transmission. For example,assuming a circumstance where maximum transmission power of the MS is200 mW and the MS currently uses power of 180 mW in a frequency band of10 MHz, a power headroom of the MS becomes 20 mW.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the MS forms awireless link for a macro BS and a small BS, both the macro BS and thesmall BS require information regarding a power headroom amount of theMS. Therefore, an embodiment of the present disclosure describes amethod for reporting a power headroom amount to the macro BS and thesmall BS to which the MS is being wirelessly connected.

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating a procedure that transmits power headroominformation of UE between BSs in a wireless communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2A, UE 120 detects occurrence of a Power HeadroomReport (PHR) event in operation 200. For example, the UE 120 may detectat least one of a path loss change, a P-Maximum Power Reduction (MPR), Scell addition, and power back off by a MAC entity corresponding to atleast one BS among two BSs connected via a wireless link to detect anevent for triggering a power headroom report. Also, the UE 120 maydetect whether an event for triggering a power headroom report occursbased on a periodic timer, a prohibit timer, a path loss value, etc.Here, the periodic timer means a time that controls a power headroomreport to be periodically triggered, and the prohibit timer means a timethat controls a power headroom report not to be triggered. In the casewhere an uplink resource for new transmission is allocated to a currentTransmission Time Interval (TTI), or in the case where an allocateduplink resource may accept a PHR MAC control element including a subheader as a result of a logic channel priority, or in the case where apower headroom report is triggered, the periodic timer may start (or maybe driven) or restart (or may be re-driven). Also, the periodic timerfor triggering a power headroom report and the prohibit timer may startwhen each MAC entity transmits a relevant PHR. A value of the periodictimer and the prohibit timer may be expressed as the number ofsubframes. For example, in the case where a value of the periodic timeris 10, the UE may trigger a power headroom report every 10 subframes. Incontrast, in the case where a value of the prohibit timer is 10, an MSmay block a trigger of a power headroom report during 10 subframes. Inthis case, when 10 subframes elapse and the prohibit timer expires, anopportunity that may trigger a power headroom report may be obtained.

For example, it may occur that the UE 120 detects occurrence of a powerheadroom report event in operation 200. In the case where a periodictimer or a periodic PHR timer set in advance expires, the UE 120 maydetect a power headroom report event. For another example, in the casewhere an estimated path loss value changes by a threshold or more withrespect to a macro BS 100, the UE 120 may detect a power headroom reportevent. For still another example, the UE 120 may detect a power headroomreport event based on at least one of a path loss change, an MPR, Scellactivation, and power back off by a MAC entity corresponding to at leastone BS among two BSs connected via a wireless link. Here, a threshold ofa periodic timer, a prohibit timer, a path loss, etc. may be obtained byreceiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message illustrated in Table 1below from the macro BS 100. Also, a path loss value may be measuredbased on reception power of a reference symbol received from the macroBS 100. According to another embodiment, the threshold of the periodictimer, the prohibit timer, and the path loss may be obtained byreceiving an RRC message illustrated in Table 1 below from a small BS110, and the path loss value may be measured based on reception power ofa reference symbol received from the small BS 110.

The UE 120 estimates a power headroom, and reports the estimated powerheadroom to the macro BS 100 in operation 210. In the presentspecification, a power headroom may mean a power headroom amount. Apower headroom P_(PH) may be defined as a difference value betweenmaximum transmission power P_(max) set in advance to the UE 120 andpower P_(estimated) estimated for uplink transmission, and may beexpressed in terms of dB. Depending on an embodiment, the UE 120 mayreport a transmission power amount expressed in terms of dB, andquantize a transmission power amount using n bits and report the same.For example, a power headroom may be expressed within a range from −23dB to +40 dB. In the case where 6 bits are used in representing a powerheadroom, 64 indexes (2⁶=64) may be represented using 6 bits, so thatthe range from −23 dB to +40 dB may be divided into 64 steps. That is,in the case where a power headroom is equal to or greater than −23 dBand less than −22 dB, the UE 120 may report 000001, in the case where apower headroom is equal to or greater than −22 dB and less than −21 dB,the UE 120 may report 000010, in the case where a power headroom isequal to or greater than −21 dB and less than −20 dB, the UE 120 mayreport 000011, . . . , and in the case where a power headroom is equalto or greater than 40 dB, the UE 120 may report 111111. Here, each MACentity may independently detect a periodic power headroom report triggeror a trigger of a power headroom report by reconfiguration to transmitthe PHR to a relevant BS.

The macro BS 100 that has received a power headroom report from the UE120 determines that the UE 120 is being connected to the small BS 110simultaneously, and may exchange power headroom information of the UE120 with the small BS 110 in operation 220. At this point, the macro BS100 and the small BS 110 may exchange power headroom information via anX2 interface. The small BS 110 may obtain power headroom information ofthe UE 120 via the macro BS 100, and perform uplink scheduling for theUE 120 based on the obtained power headroom information.

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating a detailed procedure that transmits powerheadroom information of UE in a wireless communication system accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a macro BS 100 may detect an RRC configurationmessage transmission event to the UE 120 in operation 230, and transmitthe RRC configuration message including information for each MAC entityto the UE 120 in operation 232. The macro BS 100 may detect necessity ofhaving to transmit an RRC configuration message for RRC connection setupwith UE, RRC connection reconfiguration, or RRC connectionreestablishment. The macro BS 100 may transmit an RRC configurationmessage including PHR related control information for each BS. Here, thePHR related control information for each BS may include a periodic timerfor each BS, a prohibit timer for each BS, and a threshold for a pathloss for each BS, etc. For example, the macro BS 100 may transmit an RRCconfiguration message including a periodic timer, a prohibit timer, anda threshold for a path loss for the macro BS 100. For another example,the macro BS 100 may transmit an RRC configuration message including aperiodic timer, prohibit timers, and a threshold for a path loss foreach of the macro BS and a plurality of small BSs. Here, in the casewhere the macro BS 100 transmits an RRC configuration message includingonly a periodic timer, a prohibit timer, and a threshold for a path lossfor the macro BS 100, a periodic timer, a prohibit timer, and athreshold for a path loss for small BSs 110-i to 110-k may betransmitted via an RRC message from each of the small BSs. According toan embodiment of the present disclosure, though not shown, it is assumedthat the UE 120 forms a transmission link with each of the macro BS 100and at least one of the small BSs 110-i to 110-k. Accordingly, the UE120 may receive PHR related control information for a relevant BS via anRRC message of each of the macro BS 100 and the small BSs 110-i to110-k. Here, PHR related control information of the macro BS and PHRrelated control information of a small BS may be different from eachother or may be the same.

The UE 120 detects whether a periodic timer for an MAC entity of aspecific BS among a plurality of BSs whose transmission links have beenformed expires in operation 234 to detect occurrence of a Power HeadroomReport (PHR) event. Here, it is assumed that a periodic timer for an MACentity corresponding to an i-th small BS 110-i has expired. The UE 120detects occurrence of a power headroom report event by expiration of aperiodic timer, transmits a scheduling request message requesting uplinkresource allocation to the i-th small BS 110-i in operation 236, andreceives an UL grant message including uplink resource allocationinformation from the i-th small BS 110-i in operation 238. The UE 120transmits a power headroom report message including power headroominformation of the UE 120 to the i-th small BS 110-I using the allocateduplink resource in operation 240.

The UE 100 that has transmitted the power headroom report message resetsa prohibit timer in operation 242. For example, when an MAC entitycorresponding to the i-th small BS 110-i transmits a power headroomreport message, the UE 120 initializes and restarts a prohibit timer forthe i-th small BS 110-i.

After that, the UE 100 detects whether a PHR trigger event occurs by aPHR triggering event condition in operation 244. For example, the UE 120may detect at least one of a path loss change, a P-Maximum PowerReduction (MPR), Scell activation, and a power back off by an MAC entitycorresponding to at least one BS among a plurality of BSs whose wirelesslinks have been connected to detect an event for triggering a powerheadroom report. For more detailed example, in the case where a pathloss change amount is greater than a threshold by an MAC entitycorresponding to at least one BS, the UE 120 may detect occurrence of aPHR triggering event. A power loss value may be measured based onreception power of a reference symbol received from a BS correspondingto an MAC entity. For another example, in the case where a P-MPR changeamount is greater than a threshold, the UE 120 may detect occurrence ofa PHR triggering event.

In the case where the UE 120 detects occurrence of a power headroomreport event in operation 244, the UE 120 determines whether a prohibittimer expires in operation 246. In the case where the prohibit timerexpires, the UE 120 determines a circumstance where a power headroomreport is possible, and transmits a scheduling request messagerequesting uplink resource allocation to the macro BS 100 in operation248, and receives an UL grant message including uplink resourceallocation information from the macro BS 100 in operation 250.

The UE 120 transmits a power headroom report message including powerheadroom information of the UE 120 to the macro BS 100 using theallocated uplink resource in operation 234. At this point, the UE 120may estimate a power headroom for each of the plurality of BSs whoselinks have been formed, and transmit a power headroom report messageincluding power headroom information for each BS to the macro BS 100.For example, the UE 120 may transmit a power headroom report message tothe macro BS 100 regardless of a BS that has detected a PHR triggerevent of operation 244. Also, the UE 120 resets a prohibit timer of theBSs which received new PHR reports in operation 254. For example, whenan MAC entity corresponding to the macro BS 100 transmits a powerheadroom report message, the UE 120 initializes and restarts a prohibittimer for the macro BS and other Scell BSs which updated this new PHRreports 100.

The macro BS 100 that has been reported the power headroom from the UE120 may determine the UE 120 is being connected to one or more small BSs110-i to 110-k, and transmit power headroom information of the UE 120 toa relevant small BS 110-i, 110-k in operation 256. At this point, themacro BS 100 may transmit power headroom information to the small BSs110-i to 110-k via an X2 interface.

The order of PHR triggering event based on periodic timer and others inoperation 244 can be decided following which event is happen in advance.

However, according to the above method where a specific BS transmitspower headroom information of the UE to other BSs, a maximum delay of 60msec may occur depending on the kind of a backhaul connecting BSs, and apower headroom of the UE 120 may change during this delay time. In thiscase, the small BSs 110-i to 110-k cannot immediately recognize that thepower headroom of the UE 120 changes, and performs uplink schedulingusing the previous power headroom, so that a transmission error of thesystem or deterioration of a wireless resource efficiency may occur.

Therefore, the present specification proposes, as another embodiment, amethod for reporting, at a UE, a changed power headroom to a specific BSand other BSs in the case where a power headroom of the UE is changed byuplink scheduling of a specific BS among a plurality of BSs to which theUE is connected.

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a signal flow performing a power headroomreport on a plurality of BSs to which a UE is being wirelessly connectedin a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a UE 300 detects occurrence of a PHR event inoperation 310. The UE 300 may detect whether a PHR event occurs based ona periodic timer, a prohibit timer, a path loss value, a threshold for apower headroom change, and a timer for a power headroom change. Foranother example, the UE 300 may detect at least one of a path losschange, an MPR, Scell activation, and power back off by a MAC entitycorresponding to at least one BS among two BSs connected via a wirelesslink to detect an event for triggering a power headroom report. Foranother example, the UE 300 may detect occurrence of an event fortriggering a power headroom report by periodic power headroom report orreconfiguration for each BS via a MAC entity corresponding to each oftwo BSs. Here, the periodic timer, the prohibit timer, and the path lossvalue are the same as those described in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Also, athreshold for a power headroom change means a value for controlling apower headroom report to be triggered when a power headroom of UE ischanged by a predetermined amount or more by uplink scheduling of a BS.For example, in the case where q UE uses transmission power of 70 mW byuplink scheduling of a BS among a power headroom of 200 mW while thepower headroom of the UE is 200 mW, the power headroom amount reduces by70 mW and becomes 130 mW. At this point, when a threshold for a powerheadroom change is 20 mW, since the power headroom change amount of 70mW is greater than the threshold of 20 mW, the UE may trigger a powerheadroom report. For another example, in the case where the UEadditionally uses transmission power of 10 mW by uplink scheduling of aBS among a power headroom of 130 mW while the power headroom of the UEis 130 mW, the power headroom amount reduces by 10 mW and becomes 120mW. At this point, when a threshold for a power headroom change is 20mW, since the power headroom change amount of 10 mW is less than thethreshold of 20 mW, the UE may control a power headroom report not to betriggered. In addition, a timer for a power headroom change means avalue that controls a power headroom report to be triggered when acircumstance where a power headroom of the UE is changed by apredetermined amount by uplink scheduling of a BS is maintained for apredetermined time or more. For example, in the case where a thresholdfor a power headroom change is 20 mW and a timer for a power headroomchange is 5, in the case where a power headroom is changed from 150 mWto a value smaller than 150 mW by 20 mW or more (that is, a value equalto or less than 130 mW) by uplink scheduling of a BS and then the powerheadroom is maintained as a value equal to or less than 130 mW for 5subframes, the UE may trigger a power headroom report. For anotherexample, in the case where a power headroom is changed from 150 mW to avalue smaller than 150 mW by 20 mW or more (that is, a value equal to orless than 130 mW) by uplink scheduling of a BS but the power headroom isnot maintained as a value equal to or less than 130 mW for 5 subframes,the UE may control the power headroom report not to be triggered.

Here, the UE may receive a periodic timer, a prohibit timer, a thresholdfor a path loss, a threshold for a power headroom change, and a timerfor a power headroom change via a RRC message as illustrated in Table 1below. Description of Table 1 below is equally applicable to FIGS. 2Aand 2B.

TABLE 1 Table 1PHR-Config setup periodic PHR-Timer Timer_1prohibitPHR-Time Time_1 dl-PathlossChange Threshold_1 Ch_PH-ThresholdThreshold_2 Ch_PH-Timer Time_2

Here, PHR-Config means a field including control information related toa PHR in an RRC message, periodic PHR-Timer means a periodic timer thatcontrols a power headroom report to be triggered periodically, andprohibit PHR-Time means a time section that controls a power headroomreport not to be controlled. At this point, prohibit PHR-Time may be setto a measurement time of the prohibit timer. Also, dl-PathlossChangemeans a threshold for a path loss, Ch_PH-Threshold means a threshold fora power headroom change, and Ch_PH-Timer means a timer for a powerheadroom change. For another example, the UE may receive a periodictimer, a prohibit timer, a threshold for a path loss, a threshold for apower headroom change, and a timer for a power headroom change via anRRC message from a small BS 304. For example, various parameters usedfor detecting a power headroom report trigger event may be received froma macro BS and a small BS.

The UE 300 estimates a power headroom, and reports the estimated powerheadroom to a macro BS 304 in operation 320. At this point, the macro BS304 may estimate uplink maximum transmission power supportable by the UEbased on power headroom information of the UE 300, and perform uplinkscheduling such as a Transmit Power Control (TPC), a Modulation andCoding Scheme (MCS) level, a bandwidth, etc. within a range that doesnot depart from the estimated uplink maximum transmission power.

The UE 300 detects a power headroom changed by uplink scheduling of themacro BS 304 in operation 330. After that, the UE 300 detects occurrenceof a power headroom report event for triggering a power headroom reportin operation 340. Here, the UE 300 may detect whether an event fortriggering a power headroom report based on a periodic timer, a prohibittimer, a threshold for a path loss, a threshold for a power headroomchange, and a timer for a power headroom change. For example, in thecase where an amount by which a power headroom changes by scheduling ofthe macro BS 304 is equal to or greater than Ch-PH-Threshold, the UE 300may detect occurrence of a power headroom report event and trigger apower headroom report. For another example, in the case where a changeamount of a power headroom is maintained as a value equal to or greaterthan Ch-PH-Threshold for a time of Ch_PH-Timer or more by scheduling ofthe macro BS 304, the UE 300 may detect occurrence of a power headroomreport event and trigger a power headroom report. Here, the UE 300calculates a power headroom of a point at which a power headroom reportof the macro BS 304 has been triggered, and generates a power headroomreport message representing the calculated power headroom. For anotherexample, the UE 300 may calculate an average value for power headroomsfor a time corresponding to Ch_PH-Timer, and generate a power headroomreport message representing an average power headroom.

The UE 300 transmits a power headroom report message to a small BS 302in operation 350. Additionally, the UE 300 may transmit a power headroomreport message to the macro BS 304 in operation 360. For example, the UE300 may transmit the power headroom report message generated inoperation 340 to both the small BS 302 and the macro BS 304, and maytransmit the power headroom report message to one of the small BS 302and the macro BS 304.

FIG. 3B is a view illustrating a detailed signal flow performing a powerheadroom report on a plurality of BSs to which a UE is being wirelesslyconnected in a wireless communication system according to an embodimentof the present disclosure. Here, since operations 370 to 386 of FIG. 3Bare the same as operations 230 to 246 of FIG. 2B, description thereof isomitted for convenience in description.

Referring to FIG. 3B, in the case where a prohibit timer expires as aresult of the determination in operation 386, the UE 300 determines acircumstance where power headroom report is possible, transmits ascheduling request message requesting uplink resource allocation to eachof a plurality of BSs 302-i to 302-k, 304 that are being wirelesslyconnected in operation 388, and receives an UL grant message includinguplink resource allocation information from each of the plurality of BSs302-i to 302-k, 304 in operation 390.

The UE 300 transmits a power headroom report message including powerheadroom information of the UE 300 to each of the plurality of BSs 302-ito 302-k, 304 using an uplink resource allocated by each of theplurality of BSs 302-i to 302-k, 304 in operation 392. At this point,the UE 300 may estimate power headroom for each of the plurality of BSs,generate a power headroom report message including power headroominformation for a relevant BS for each BS, and transmit the same. Also,when an MAC entity transmits a power headroom report message, the UE 300may initialize and restart a prohibit timer for at least one BScorresponding to the MAC entity.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure that performsa power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which UE is beingwirelessly connected in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the UE 300 performs initial connection via an RRCmessage in operation 401. At this point, the UE may perform initialconnection procedures on a macro BS 304 and a small BS 302,respectively, to form two transmission links for the two BSs 302 and304. At this point, the UE 300 may receive PHR related controlinformation as illustrated in Table 1 via an RRC message of each of themacro BS and the small BS. Here, PHR related control information of themacro BS and PHR related control information of the small BS may bedifferent from each other or may be the same.

After that, the UE 300 detects whether a periodic PHR event occurs inoperation 403. For example, the UE 300 determines periodic PHR-Timer andprohibit PHR-Time from an RRC message of at least one of the macro BSand the small BS to set a periodic timer and a prohibit timer anddetermines whether a power headroom report trigger condition by theperiodic timer and the prohibit timer is met. Here, the periodic timerand the prohibit timer may be different or may be the same for each BS.In the case where the periodic timer and the prohibit timer aredifferent for each BS, the UE 300 may determine whether a power headroomreport trigger condition by the periodic timer and the prohibit timer ofthe macro BS is met, or whether a power headroom report triggercondition by the periodic timer and the prohibit timer of the small BSis met. The periodic timer and the prohibit timer may start or restartwhen each MAC entity transmits a power headroom report.

In the case where a periodic PHR event occurs, the UE 300 proceeds tooperation 405 to perform a power headroom report on the BS 304. Forexample, in the case where a periodic PHR event occurs, the UE 300performs power headroom report on a BS that has generated the periodicPHR event. More specifically, in the case where the periodic PHR eventhas been generated by the periodic timer of the macro BS, the UE 300 mayperform power headroom report on the macro BS. In the case where theperiodic PHR event has been generated by the periodic timer of the smallBS, the UE 300 may perform power headroom report on the small BS.

After that, the UE 304 detects an uplink channel status of a specific BSamong BSs whose transmission links have been formed changes in operation407. For example, the UE 304 may detect a power headroom is changed byuplink scheduling of the macro BS, or detect a power headroom is changedby uplink scheduling of the small BS. Here, the UE 304 may detect apower headroom is changed by a path loss change for a specific BS, aP-MPR, Scell activation, a power back off change, etc.

After that, the UE 300 determines if a change amount of a power headroomby a channel status is equal to or greater than a threshold in operation409. For example, the UE 300 determines a threshold for a power headroomchange from PHR related control information received via an RRC messagefrom a specific BS, and determines whether a change amount (or a changewidth) of a power headroom by uplink scheduling of a specific BS isequal to or greater than the threshold. For example, in the case where apower headroom of a point before the uplink scheduling is 150 mW and thethreshold for the power headroom change is 20 mW, the UE determineswhether a power headroom is changed from 150 mW to a value smaller than150 mW by 20 mW or more (that is, a value equal to or less than 130 mW)by the uplink scheduling of the macro BS 304. Additionally, the UE 300may determine a timer for a power headroom change from the PHR relatedcontrol information received via an RRC message from a specific BS, anddetermine a change amount of the power headroom maintains a threshold ormore for a time corresponding to the timer. For example, in the casewhere a power headroom of a point before the uplink scheduling is 150mW, a threshold for a power headroom change is 20 mW, and a timer for apower headroom change is 5, the UE determines whether a power headroomis maintained as a value equal to or less than 130 mW during 5 subframesafter the power headroom is changed from 150 mW to a value smaller than150 mW by 20 mW or more (that is, a value equal to or less than 130 mW)by the uplink scheduling of the small BS 302.

If a change amount of the power headroom is less than the threshold, theUE 300 returns to operation 403 to re-perform subsequent operations. Forexample, in the case where a power headroom of a point before the uplinkscheduling is 150 mW and a threshold for a power headroom change is 20mW, in the case where a power headroom is changed from 150 mW to 140 mWsmaller than 150 mW by 10 mW by the uplink scheduling of the macro BS304, the UE determines the change amount of the power headroom is lessthan the threshold, and determines a periodic PHR event occurs.

In contrast, in the case where the change amount of the power headroomis equal to or greater than the threshold, the UE 300 proceeds tooperation 411 to transmit a power headroom report message representingthe changed power headroom to at least one of the macro BS 304 and thesmall BS 302 that are being connected. For example, in the case where apower headroom of a point before uplink scheduling is 150 mW and athreshold for a power headroom change of the macro BS is 20 mW, in thecase where a power headroom is changed from 150 mW to 110 mW which is avalue smaller than 150 mW by 20 mW or more by uplink scheduling of themacro BS, the UE may generate a power headroom report messagerepresenting the changed 110 mW and transmit the same to the macro BSand the small BS 302. For another example, in the case where a powerheadroom of a point before uplink scheduling is 200 mW and a thresholdfor a power headroom change is 10 mW, in the case where a power headroomis changed from 200 mW to 180 mW which is a value smaller than 200 mW by10 mW or more by uplink scheduling of the small BS, the UE may generatea power headroom report message representing the changed 180 mW andtransmit the same to the macro BS and the small BS 302. After that, theUE 300 returns to operation 403 to re-perform subsequent operations.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a BS, forreceiving a power headroom report from UE in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4B, a macro BS 304 performs initial connection withthe UE 300 using an RRC message in operation 421. At this point, the RRCmessage may include PHR related control information as illustrated inTable 1.

After that, the macro BS 304 determines whether a power headroom reportmessage is received from the UE 300 in operation 423. When the powerheadroom report message is received, the macro BS 304 performs uplinkscheduling for a relevant UE in operation 425. For example, the macro BS304 may estimate uplink maximum transmission power supportable by the UEbased on power headroom information of the UE, and perform uplinkcontrol such as a TPC, an MCS level, a bandwidth, etc. within a rangethat does not depart from the estimated uplink maximum transmissionpower.

After that, the macro BS 304 transmits uplink scheduling information tothe UE 300 in operation 427, and returns to operation 423 to re-performsubsequent operations.

The embodiments of FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B have described that the UEdetects whether an event for triggering a power headroom report occursbased on a change amount of a power headroom by uplink scheduling and/ora time for which the change amount of the power headroom is met.However, according to various embodiments, the UE may detect an eventfor triggering a power headroom report based on at least one of a pathloss change, an MPR, Scell activation, and power back off via a MACentity corresponding to at least one BS among two BSs. For anotherembodiment, the UE may detect an event for triggering a periodic powerheadroom report for a relevant BS or a power headroom report byreconfiguration independently via a MAC entity corresponding to aspecific BS. Also, depending on an embodiment, the UE may transmit apower headroom report message generated based on a power headroom reporttrigger event detected by at least one of a plurality of BSs to only arelevant BS, or transmit the power headroom report message to therelevant BS and at least one different BS, simultaneously.

Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the embodiment of thepresent disclosure may report a power headroom change circumstance of aUE by transmission power allocation of a specific BS to other BSs byusing a power headroom change amount by uplink scheduling and/or a timefor which a power headroom change amount is met as a condition of apower headroom report trigger event. However, according to this method,a result thereof may change depending on which BS a power headroomreport is performed among BSs to which the UE is connected. Therefore,the above embodiment has a difficulty in obtaining an optimizedperformance with respect to all transmission links.

Therefore, an embodiment below describes a method for distributing inadvance maximum transmission power of a UE to a plurality of BSs thatare being connected to the UE, and adjusting transmission powerdistributed to respective BSs based on a channel state of the pluralityof BSs and a data amount of an uplink buffer in order to obtain anoptimized performance with respect to all transmission links.

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating an example that distributes maximumtransmission power to a plurality of BSs to which UE is being wirelesslyconnected in a wireless communication system according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, an embodiment of the present disclosuredetermines uplink maximum transmission power P_(max) 500 of UE, anddivides the maximum transmission power 500 into maximum transmissionpower P_(s) 502 for a small BS and maximum transmission power P_(m) 504for a macro BS. That is, the maximum transmission power 502 for thesmall BS means maximum transmission power that may be used for atransmission link for a specific small BS under a circumstance where aUE forms transmission links with a plurality of BSs. Also, the maximumtransmission power 504 for the macro BS means maximum transmission powerthat may be used for a transmission link for a specific macro BS under acircumstance where a UE forms transmission links with a plurality ofBSs.

The maximum transmission power P_(s) 502 for the small BS and themaximum transmission power P_(m) 504 for the macro BS may be distributedbased on parameters such as Aggregated Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR) for eachof a plurality of BSs that are being connected, a path loss, an uplinkchannel state quality, a bandwidth, and/or a weight factor.

Uplink maximum transmission power of a UE may be distributed in thefollowing manner based on each parameter.

1) Aggregated Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR)

A UE may determine maximum transmission power for each transmission linkbased on an AMBR for each uplink transmission link with respect to eachBS. At this point, the UE may distribute more maximum transmission powerto a BS of a transmission link whose AMBR is high. That is, the UE maydetermine the maximum transmission power such that the maximumtransmission power is proportional to an AMBR value of a transmissionlink. For example, the UE may distribute transmission power asillustrated in Equation (1) below.

$\begin{matrix}{{P_{m} = {\frac{{AMBR}_{m}}{{AMBR}_{m} + {AMBR}_{s}}P_{\max}}},{P_{s} = {\frac{{AMBR}_{ms}}{{AMBR}_{m} + {AMBR}_{s}}P_{\max}}}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} (1)}\end{matrix}$

where P_(m) is maximum transmission power for a macro BS, P_(s) ismaximum transmission power for a small BS, AMBR_(m) is an AMBR for amacro BS, and AMBR_(s) is an AMBR for a small BS, and P_(max) is uplinkmaximum transmission power of UE. For example, under a circumstancewhere maximum transmission power of UE is 200 mW, a transmission linkfor a macro BS services Voice over IP (VoIP) traffic to enable a Qualityof Service (QoS) service even for a frequent handoff, and a largecapacity file of a best effort is transmitted via a transmission linkfor a small BS, assuming that an AMBR of a transmission link for a macroBS is 1 Mbps and an AMBR of a transmission link for a small BS is 4Mbps, maximum transmission power for the macro BS may be determined as40 (=(1/(1+4))*200), and maximum transmission power for the small BS maybe determined as 160 (=(4/(1+4))*200).

2) A Path Loss or Channel State Quality Information

A UE may determine maximum transmission power for each transmissionpower based on a path loss for each uplink transmission link or channelstate quality information with respect to each BS. Generally, since whena transmission region of a BS is small, a distance from a user is closeand a channel environment is superior in a wireless communicationsystem, the UE reflects this to distribute uplink maximum transmissionpower. The UE may determine maximum transmission power such that themaximum transmission power is inversely proportional to a path lossvalue of a transmission link.

3) A Bandwidth

A UE may determine maximum transmission power for each transmission linkbased on a spectrum bandwidth used for a transmission link of each BS.The UE may determine maximum transmission power such that the maximumtransmission power is proportional to the bandwidth of a transmissionlink for each BS. For example, in the case where a bandwidth used for atransmission link of a macro BS is 10 MHz and a bandwidth used for atransmission link of a small BS is 40 MHz, the UE may divide maximumtransmission power of 200 mW of the UE into 40 mW and 160 mW which is aratio of 10:40.

4) Weight Factor

A UE may determine weight for a transmission link of each BS withconsideration of rarity of each BS resource and/or the number ofconnected MSs (or network density), and determine maximum transmissionpower for each transmission link based on weight for each transmissionlink. For example, the UE may determine weight with consideration ofcosts generated when using a resource of each BS. For another example,the UE may determine weight with consideration of the number (networkdensity) of simultaneously connected UEs for each BS.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE maydistribute maximum transmission power for each BS with consideration oftwo or more parameters among the above-described parameters.

For example, the UE may reflect an AMBR and weight simultaneously todistribute transmission power as illustrated in Equation (2) below.

$\begin{matrix}{{P_{m} = {\frac{{AMBR}_{m}w_{m}}{{{AMBR}_{m}w_{m}} + {{AMBR}_{s}w_{s}}}P_{\max}}},{P_{s} = {\frac{{AMBR}_{ms}w_{m}}{{{AMBR}_{m}w_{m}} + {{AMBR}_{s}w_{s}}}P_{\max}}}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} (2)}\end{matrix}$

where P_(m) is maximum transmission power for a macro BS, P_(s) ismaximum transmission power for a small BS, AMBR_(m) is an AMBR for amacro BS, and AMBR_(s) is an AMBR for a small BS, and P_(max) is uplinkmaximum transmission power of UE. Also, w_(m) is weight of the macro BS,and w_(s) is weight of the small BS. For example, assuming that maximumtransmission power of UE is 200 mW, an AMBR of a transmission link for amacro BS is 1 Mbps and an AMBR of a transmission link for a small BS is4 Mbps, weight w_(m) of the macro BS is 1, and weight w_(s) of the smallBS is 5, maximum transmission power for the macro BS may be determinedas 10 (=(1*1/(1*1+4*5))*200), and maximum transmission power for thesmall BS may be determined as 190 (=(4*5/(1*1+4*5))*200).

For another example, the UE may reflect an AMBR, channel stateinformation, a bandwidth, and weight simultaneously as in Equation (3)below to distribute transmission power.

$\begin{matrix}{{P_{m} = {\frac{{AMBR}_{m}h_{s}{BW}_{m}w_{m}}{{{AMBR}_{m}h_{s}{BW}_{m}w_{m}} + {{AMBR}_{s}h_{m}{BW}_{s}w_{s}}}P_{\max}}}{P_{s} = {\frac{{AMBR}_{s}h_{m}{BW}_{s}w_{s}}{{{AMBR}_{m}h_{s}{BW}_{m}w_{m}} + {{AMBR}_{s}h_{m}{BW}_{s}w_{s}}}P_{\max}}}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} (3)}\end{matrix}$

where P_(m) is maximum transmission power for a macro BS, P_(s) ismaximum transmission power for a small BS, AMBR_(m) is an AMBR for amacro BS, AMBR_(s) is an AMBR for a small BS, and P_(max) is uplinkmaximum transmission power of UE. Also, w_(m) is weight of the macro BS,w_(s) is weight of the small BS, h_(m) is channel state information ofthe macro BS, h_(s) is channel state information of the small BS, BW_(m)is a bandwidth of the macro BS, and BW_(s) is a bandwidth of the smallBS.

For example, assuming that maximum transmission power of a UE is 200 mW,an AMBR of a transmission link for a macro BS is 1 Mbps and an AMBR of atransmission link for a small BS is 4 Mbps, weight w_(m) of the macro BSis 1, weight w_(s) of the small BS is 5, a bandwidth used for thetransmission link of the macro BS is 10 MHz, a bandwidth used for thetransmission link of the small BS is 40 MHz, and a ratio of channelstate information of the macro BS and the small BS and/or a path lossvalue is 1:64, maximum transmission power for the macro BS may bedetermined as 88 (=(1*64*1*1/(1*64*1*1+4*1*4*5))*200), and maximumtransmission power for the small BS may be determined as 112(=(4*1*4*5/(1*64*1*1+4*1*4*5))*200).

Also, though the embodiment of the present disclosure has exemplarilydescribed a case of distributing maximum transmission power torespective BSs using parameters such as an AMBR, a path loss, an uplinkchannel state quality, a bandwidth, and/or weight, maximum transmissionpower distribution is not limited to the above parameters but may beperformed using parameters used for allocation of a general wirelessresource.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated inFIG. 5A, a UE distributes uplink maximum transmission power to aplurality of BSs that are being connected, and then in the case where acondition of a PHR trigger event is met, the UE may reflect a channelstate of each BS and a state of an uplink buffer to adjust maximumtransmission power distributed to each BS. Here, whether a triggercondition of a PHR event is met may be determined based on at least oneof a path loss change, an MPR, S cell activation, and power back off viaa MAC entity corresponding to at least one BS among two BSs. Whether atrigger condition of a PHR event is met may be determined independentlybased on a periodic timer or a reconfiguration event via a MAC entitycorresponding to respective two BSs.

FIG. 5B is a view illustrating an example that adjusts transmissionpower distributed to a plurality of BSs to which a UE is beingwirelessly connected in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the UE may allocate (P_(s)=P_(max)) whole maximumtransmission power P_(max) 510 of the UE to only a small BS or allocate(P_(m)=P_(max)) whole maximum transmission power P_(m) 520 to only amacro BS based on a channel state of each BS and a state of an uplinkbuffer. Also, the UE may adjust a ratio of maximum transmission powerdistributed to each BS (e.g., 530 and 540).

For example, when a data amount of an uplink buffer for a macro BS isequal to or less than a first threshold and a state where the dataamount of the uplink buffer for the macro BS is equal to or less thanthe first threshold lasts for a threshold time or more, the UE mayallocate all or a portion of maximum transmission power distributed tothe macro BS to a small BS.

For another example, when a data amount of an uplink buffer for a smallBS is equal to or less than the first threshold and a state where thedata amount of the uplink buffer for the small BS is equal to or lessthan the first threshold lasts for a threshold time or more, the UE mayallocate all or a portion of maximum transmission power distributed tothe small BS to the macro BS.

For still another example, in the case where the data amount of theuplink buffer for the macro BS is greater than the first threshold andthe data amount of the uplink buffer for the small BS is greater thanthe threshold, the UE may determine whether channel state informationvalues for two BSs change to a second threshold or more for a thresholdtime. In the case where the channel state information values for the twoBSs change to the second threshold or more for the threshold time, theUE may adjust maximum transmission power distributed to the two BSs withconsideration of the data amount of the uplink buffer and the channelstate information value. In contrast, in the case where the channelstate information values for the two BSs do not change to the secondthreshold or more for the threshold time, the UE may maintain theinitially distributed maximum transmission power without changing themaximum transmission power distributed to the two BSs.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a signal flow where a UE distributes andadjusts maximum transmission power with respect to a plurality of BSs towhich UE is being wirelessly connected, and performing a power headroomreport based on this in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, a UE 600 and a macro BS 602 perform initialconnection setting in operation 610. At this point, the macro BS 602 maytransmit an RRC message including PHR related control informationillustrated in Table 2 below to the UE 600.

TABLE 2 PHR-Config setup periodic PHR-Timer Timer_1 prohibitPHR-TimeTime_1 dl-PathlossChange Threshold_1 Buffer_Threshold Threshold_2Buffer_Timer Time_3

Here, PHR-Config means a field including control information related toa PHR in an RRC message, periodic PHR-Timer means a periodic timer thatcontrols a power headroom report to be triggered periodically, andprohibit PHR-Time means a time section that controls a power headroomreport not to be controlled. At this point, prohibit PHR-Time may be setto a measurement time of the prohibit timer. Also, dl-PathlossChangemeans a threshold for a path loss, and Buffer_Threshold means a valuecompared with an uplink buffer data amount of each BS in order todetermine whether adjustment of maximum transmission power distributedto each BS is required. Also, Buffer-Timer means a value compared with atime for which an uplink buffer data amount of each BS is maintained asa threshold or more in order to determine whether adjustment of maximumtransmission power distributed to each BS is required. For example, theUE may compare an uplink buffer data amount of each BS withBuffer_Threshold to determine whether adjustment of maximum transmissionpower distributed to each BS is required. For another example, the UEmay measure a time for which a state where an uplink buffer data amountof each BS is smaller than Buffer_Threshold is maintained, and comparethe measured time with a time of Buffer-Timer to determine whetheradjustment of maximum transmission power distributed to each BS isrequired.

When initial connection setting is completed, the UE 600 performs astatic decision operation that distributes maximum transmission power ofthe UE 600 to a macro BS 602 and a small BS 604 that are being connectedin operation 620. At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the UE 600may distribute maximum transmission power to transmission power of themacro BS 602 and transmission power of the small BS 604 based on atleast one of an AMBR, channel state information, a bandwidth, and aweight parameter. Depending on an embodiment, the UE 600 may distributemaximum transmission power using a parameter indicated by the macro BS602 among the AMBR, the channel state information, the bandwidth, andthe weight parameter. For example, the macro BS 602 may add a parameterto be used for maximum transmission power distribution to an RRC messageillustrated in Table 2, and transmit the same to the UE 600.

After that, the UE 600 detects occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event in operation 630. For example, the UE 600 may detectoccurrence of a power headroom report trigger event based on PHR relatedcontrol information included in an RRC message illustrated in Table 2.For another example, the UE 600 may detect at least one of a path losschange, an MPR, Scell activation, and power back off via a MAC entitycorresponding to at least one BS among two BSs connected via a wirelesslink to detect occurrence of an event for triggering a power headroomreport. For still another example, the UE 600 may detect occurrence ofan event for triggering a power headroom report by a periodic powerheadroom report or reconfiguration of each BS via a MAC entitycorresponding to two BSs. As a more specific example, the UE 600 maydetect occurrence of a periodic power headroom report trigger eventbased on at least one of a periodic PHR-Timer parameter and a prohibitPHR-Time parameter included in an RRC message. For further anotherexample, the UE 600 may periodically measure a path loss for each of aplurality of BSs that are being connected to calculate a path losschange amount, and in the case where the calculated path loss changeamount is greater than a dl-PathlossChange parameter included in an RRCmessage, the UE 600 may detect occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event.

The UE 600 that has detected occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event performs an adaptive scaling operation that adjusts aninitially distributed transmission power amount on each of the macro BS602 and the small BS 604 in operation 640. At this point, the UE 600 mayperiodically monitor an uplink buffer data amount for a plurality of BSsthat are being connected, and in the case where an uplink buffer dataamount for at least one BS becomes smaller than Buffer_Thresholdincluded in an RRC message, or a state where an uplink buffer dataamount for at least one BS that is being connected is smaller thanBuffer_Threshold included in an RRC message is maintained for a time ofBuffer-Timer included the RRC message, the UE 600 adjusts a ratio oftransmission power initially distributed to each BS via a staticdecision operation. For another example, in the case where an uplinkbuffer data amount for a plurality of BSs that are being connected isgreater than Buffer_Threshold included in the RRC message but a channelstate change amount for at least one BS is equal to or greater than athreshold set in advance, the UE 600 may adjust a ratio of transmissionpower initially distributed to each BS via a static decision operation.Specifically, the UE 600 may control whole maximum transmission powerP_(max) of the UE to be allocated (P_(s)=P_(max)) to only the small BS604 or may control whole maximum transmission power P_(max) of the UE tobe allocated (P_(m)=P_(max)) to only the macro BS 602 based on a channelstate of each BS and a data amount of an uplink buffer. Also, the UE 600may adjust a ratio of maximum transmission power distributed to themacro BS 602 and the small BS 604.

The UE 600 generates a transmission power headroom report message forthe macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 based on the transmission power ofthe macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 adjusted by the adaptive scalingoperation in operation 650. The UE 600 transmits a relevant powerheadroom report message to the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 inoperations 660 and 662. Here, for convenience, a description has beenmade to only initial connection setting between the UE 600 and the macroBS 602 in operation 610. However, it is natural that initial connectionsetting between the UE 600 and the small BS 604 should be performedbefore operation 620 (before a static decision operation is performed)in order to apply the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure where a UEdistributes and adjusts maximum transmission power with respect to aplurality of BSs to which UE is being wirelessly connected, and performsa power headroom report based on this in a wireless communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the UE 600 performs initial connection settingusing an RRC message in operation 701. At this point, the UE 600 mayreceive the RRC message including PHR related control informationillustrated in Table 2 from the macro BS 602. Here, for convenience indescription, it is assumed that the UE 600 has set connection with thesmall cell 602 in advance.

When initial connection setting is completed, the UE 600 calculates aparameter required for distributing uplink maximum transmission power ofthe UE in operation 703. For example, the UE may calculate at least oneof an AMBR, channel state information, a bandwidth, and a weightparameter as illustrated in FIG. 5A with respect to each of the macro BS602 and the small BS 604. Depending on an embodiment, the UE 600 maydetermine a maximum transmission power distribution method indicated bya BS via the RRC message, and calculate at least one parametercorresponding to the determined maximum transmission power distributionmethod with respect to the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604.

In operation 705, the UE 600 distributes maximum transmission power to aplurality of BSs that are being connected, that is, the macro BS 602 andthe small BS 604 based on the calculated parameter. For example, the UE600 may distribute transmission power to the macro BS 602 and the smallBS 604 such that the transmission power is proportional to AMBRs of themacro BS 602 and the small BS 604. For another example, the UE 600 maydistribute transmission power to the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604such that the transmission power is inversely proportional to channelstate information of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604. For stillanother example, the UE 600 may distribute transmission power to themacro BS 602 and the small BS 604 such that the transmission power isproportional to a bandwidth of each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS604. For yet another example, the UE 600 may distribute transmissionpower with consideration of service costs and the number of simultaneousconnecting users of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604.

After that, the UE 600 detects whether an event for triggering a powerheadroom report occurs in operation 707. For example, the UE 600 maydetect occurrence of a power headroom report event based on PHR relatedcontrol information included in an RRC message illustrated in Table 2.For another example, the UE 600 may detect at least one of a path losschange, an MPR, Scell activation, and power back off via a MAC entitycorresponding to at least one BS among two BSs connected via a wirelesslink to detect an event for triggering a power headroom report. Forstill another example, the UE 600 may detect occurrence of an event fortriggering a power headroom report by a periodic power headroom reportor reconfiguration for each BS via a MAC entity corresponding to each oftwo BSs. For a more specific example, the UE 600 may detect occurrenceof a periodic power headroom report trigger event based on at least oneof a periodic PHR-Timer parameter and a prohibit PHR-Time parameterincluded in an RRC message. For another example, the UE 600 mayperiodically measure a path loss for each of a plurality of BSs that arebeing connected to calculate a path loss change amount, and in the casewhere the calculated path loss change amount is greater than adl-PathlossChange parameter included in an RRC message, the UE 600 maydetect occurrence of a power headroom report trigger event.

The UE 600 that has detected occurrence of the power headroom reporttrigger event adjusts transmission power for each BS based on an uplinkbuffer data amount for each of a plurality of BSs that are beingconnected in operation 709. At this point, the UE 600 may periodicallymonitor an uplink buffer data amount for a plurality of BSs that arebeing connected, and in the case where an uplink buffer data amount forat least one BS becomes smaller than Buffer_Threshold included in an RRCmessage, or a state where an uplink buffer data amount for at least oneBS that is being connected is smaller than Buffer_Threshold included inan RRC message is maintained for a time of Buffer-Timer included the RRCmessage, the UE 600 adjusts a ratio of transmission power initiallydistributed to each BS via a static decision operation. For anotherexample, in the case where an uplink buffer data amount for a pluralityof BSs that are being connected is greater than Buffer_Thresholdincluded in the RRC message but a channel state change amount for atleast one BS is equal to or greater than a threshold set in advance, theUE 600 may adjust a ratio of transmission power initially distributed toeach BS via a static decision operation. Specifically, the UE 600 maycontrol whole maximum transmission power P_(max) of the UE to beallocated (P_(s)=P_(max)) to only the small BS 604 or may control wholemaximum transmission power P_(max) of the UE to be allocated(P_(m)=P_(max)) to only the macro BS 602 based on a channel state ofeach BS and a data amount of an uplink buffer. Also, the UE 600 mayadjust a ratio of maximum transmission power distributed to the macro BS602 and the small BS 604. Here, a method for adjusting transmissionpower is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7C.

In operation 711, the UE 600 generates a transmission power headroomreport message for each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 basedon transmission power adjusted for the macro BS 602 and the small BS604, and transmits the generated power headroom report messages to themacro BS 602 and the small BS 604, respectively. After that, the UE 600returns to operation 707 to re-perform subsequent operations.

FIG. 7B is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a BS, forreceiving a power headroom report from a UE in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the macro BS 602 performs initial connection withthe UE 600 using an RRC message in operation 721. At this point, the RRCmessage may include PHR related control information illustrated in Table2.

After that, the macro BS 602 determines whether a power headroom reportmessage is received from the UE 600 in operation 723. When the powerheadroom report message is received, the macro BS 602 performs uplinkscheduling on a relevant UE in operation 725. For example, the macro BS602 may estimate uplink maximum transmission power supportable by an MSbased on the power headroom information of the MS, and perform uplinkcontrol such as TPC, an MCS level, a bandwidth, etc. within a range thatdoes not depart from the estimated uplink maximum transmission power.

After that, the macro BS 602 transmits uplink scheduling information tothe UE 600 in operation 727, and returns to operation 723 to re-performsubsequent operations.

FIG. 7C is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation procedure whereUE adjusts uplink transmission power distribution for a plurality of BSsto which UE is being wirelessly connected in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7C, the UE 600 determines whether a data amount BSR_mof an uplink buffer for the macro BS 602 is less than Buffer_Threshold(Thr_2) received via an RRC message illustrated in Table 2 in operation751.

If the data amount of the uplink buffer for the macro BS 602 is lessthan the buffer threshold Thr_2, the UE 600 may allocate whole maximumtransmission power P_(m) of the UE to the small BS 604 in operation 753.Additionally, the UE 600 measures a time for which a state where thedata amount of the uplink buffer for the macro BS 602 is less than thebuffer threshold Thr_2 is maintained, and determines whether themeasured time is equal to or greater than Buffer_Timer (Time 3)illustrated in Table 2 to allocate (P_(s)=P_(max)) the whole maximumtransmission power P_(max) of the UE to the small BS 604.

In contrast, in the case where the data amount of the uplink buffer forthe macro BS 602 is equal to or greater than the buffer threshold Thr_2,the UE 600 determines whether a data amount of an uplink buffer for thesmall BS 604 is less than the buffer threshold Thr_2 in operation 755.

If the data amount of the uplink buffer for the small BS 604 is lessthan the buffer threshold Thr_2, the UE 600 may allocate the wholemaximum transmission power P_(m) of the UE to the macro BS 602 inoperation 757.

Additionally, the UE 600 measures a time for which a state where thedata amount of the uplink buffer for the small BS 604 is less than thebuffer threshold Thr_2 is maintained, and determines whether themeasured time is equal to or greater than Buffer_Timer (Time 3)illustrated in Table 2 to allocate (P_(m)=P_(max)) the whole maximumtransmission power P_(max) of the UE to the macro BS 602.

In contrast, in the case where the data amount of the uplink buffer forthe small BS 604 is equal to or greater than the buffer threshold Thr_2,that is, in the case where both the data amount of the uplink buffer forthe macro BS 602 and the data amount of the uplink buffer for the smallBS 604 is equal to or greater than the buffer threshold Thr_2, the UE600 determines whether channel state information of at least one of thetwo BSs changes to a threshold set in advance or more in operation 759.In the case where channel state information of at least one of the twoBSs changes to the threshold set in advance or more, the UE 600 changestransmission power P_(m) currently distributed to the macro BS 602 andtransmission power P_(s) currently distributed to the small BS 604 inoperation 761.

In contrast, in the case where channel state information of at least oneof the two BSs does not change to the threshold set in advance or more,the UE 600 determines to maintain transmission power for each BS withoutchanging the transmission power for each BS in operation 763.

Though a description has been made of a case where the UE performs astatic decision operation that distributes uplink maximum transmissionpower of the UE to respective BSs that are being connected, and anadaptive scaling operation that adjusts transmission power distributedto respective BSs in FIGS. 5A to 7C, the operation that distributes theuplink maximum transmission power and/or the operation that adjusts thetransmission power may be performed at a BS.

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 9B, the macro BS performs thestatic decision operation, and an MS may perform the adaptive scalingoperation. For another example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the macro BSmay perform both the static decision operation and the adaptive scalingoperation. For still another example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the UEmay perform the static decision operation, and the macro BS may performthe adaptive scaling operation.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a signal flow where a BS distributesmaximum transmission power of a UE and the UE performs a power headroomreport on a plurality of BSs to which the UE is being wirelesslyconnected in a wireless communication system according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, the UE 600 and the macro BS 602 perform initialconnection setting in operation 810. At this point, the macro BS 602 maytransmit an RRC message including PHR related control informationillustrated in Table 2 to the UE 600. After that, the UE 600 estimates achannel for each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604, and feedsback a channel estimated result to the macro BS 602 in operation 820.For example, the channel estimated result may include an AMBR andchannel state information for each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS604.

The macro BS 602 that has received the channel estimated result from theUE 600 performs a static decision operation that distributes maximumtransmission power of the UE 600 to the macro BS 602 and the small BS604 in operation 830. At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, themacro BS 602 may divide the maximum transmission power of the UE 600 totransmission power for the macro BS 602 and transmission power for thesmall BS 604 based on at least one of an AMBR, channel stateinformation, a bandwidth, and a weight parameter.

After that, the macro BS 602 transmits transmission power distributioninformation for each BS to the UE 600 using an RRC reconfigurationmessage in operation 840. At this point, the transmission powerdistribution information may be expressed as a ratio of transmissionpower distributed to the macro BS 602 and transmission power distributedto the small BS 604. For example, the macro BS 602 may transmit the RRCreconfiguration message including PHR related control informationillustrated in Table 3 below to the UE 600.

TABLE 3 PHR-Config setup periodic PHR-Timer Timer_1 prohibitPHR-TimeTime_1 dl-PathlossChange Threshold_1 Pm_vs_Ps_ratio calculated_value

Here, PHR-Config means a field including control information related toa PHR in an RRC message, periodic PHR-Timer means a periodic timer thatcontrols a power headroom report to be triggered periodically, andprohibit PHR-Time means a time section that controls a power headroomreport not to be controlled. At this point, prohibit PHR-Time may be setto a measurement time of the prohibit timer. Also, dl-PathlossChangemeans a threshold for a path loss, P_(m)_vs_P_(s)_ratio means a ratio oftransmission power distributed to the macro BS 602 and transmissionpower distributed to the small BS 604.

After that, the UE 600 detects occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event in operation 850. That is, the UE 600 may detectoccurrence of a power headroom report trigger event based on PHR relatedcontrol information included in an RRC message illustrated in Table 2.Here, since an operation where the UE 600 detects occurrence of a powerheadroom report trigger event is the same as operation 630, a detaileddescription thereof is omitted.

The UE 600 that has detected occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event performs an adaptive scaling operation of adjuststransmission power initially distributed to the macro BS 602 and thesmall BS 604 in operation 860. At this point, the UE 600 may controlwhole maximum transmission power P_(max) of the UE to be allocated(P_(s)=P_(max)) to only the small BS 604 or may control whole maximumtransmission power P_(max) of the UE to be allocated (P_(m)=P_(max)) toonly the macro BS 602 based on a channel state of each BS and a dataamount of an uplink buffer. Also, the UE 600 may adjust a ratio ofmaximum transmission power distributed to the macro BS 602 and the smallBS 604.

The UE 600 generates a transmission power headroom report message forthe macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 based on the transmission power ofthe macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 adjusted by the adaptive scalingoperation in operation 870. The UE 600 transmits a relevant powerheadroom report message to the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 inoperations 890 and 892.

Here, for convenience, a description has been made of only initialconnection setting between the UE 600 and the macro BS 602 in operation810. However, it is natural that initial connection setting between theUE 600 and the small BS 604 should be performed before operation 820(before the UE 600 estimates a channel for a plurality of BSs) in orderto apply the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure where a UEperforms a power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which the UEis being wirelessly connected based on maximum transmission powerdistribution information received from a BS in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the UE 600 performs initial connection settingwith the macro BS 602 using an RRC message in operation 901. At thispoint, the UE 600 may receive an RRC message including PHR relatedcontrol information illustrated in Table 2 from the macro BS 602. Here,for convenience in description, it is assumed that the UE 600 has setconnection with the small cell 602 in advance.

When the initial connection setting is completed, the UE 600 estimates achannel for the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 in operation 903, andfeeds back the estimated results. Here, the UE 600 may calculate atleast one parameter required for distributing uplink maximumtransmission power of the UE via channel estimation, and feed back thechannel estimated result including the calculated at least one parameterto the macro BS 602.

In operation 905, the UE 600 determines whether transmission powerdistribution information is received via an RRC reconfiguration messageillustrated in Table 3. In the case where the transmission powerdistribution information is received via the RRC reconfigurationmessage, the UE 600 distributes maximum transmission power of the UE 600to the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 based on the transmission powerdistribution information in operation 907. For example, in the casewhere maximum transmission power of the UE 600 is 200 mW and thetransmission power distribution information is “Pm:Ps=1:4”, the UE 600may allocate transmission power of 40 mW to the macro BS 600 andallocate transmission power of 160 mW to the small BS 604.

After that, the UE 600 detects whether an event for triggering a powerheadroom report occurs in operation 909. For example, the UE 600 maydetect occurrence of a power headroom report trigger event based on PHRrelated control information included in an RRC message illustrated inTable 2. For another example, the UE 600 may detect at least one of apath loss change, an MPR, Scell activation, and power back off via a MACentity corresponding to at least one BS among two BSs connected via awireless link to detect occurrence of an event for triggering a powerheadroom report. For another example, the UE 600 may detect occurrenceof an event for triggering a power headroom report by periodic powerheadroom report or reconfiguration for each BS via a MAC entitycorresponding to each of two BSs. For a more specific example, the UE600 may detect occurrence of a periodic power headroom report triggerevent based on at least one of a periodic PHR-Timer parameter and aprohibit PHR-Time parameter included in an RRC message. For stillanother example, the UE 600 may periodically measure a path loss foreach of a plurality of BSs that are being connected to calculate a pathloss change amount, and in the case where the calculated path losschange amount is greater than dl-PathlossChange parameter included inthe RRC message, the UE 600 may detect occurrence of a power headroomreport trigger event.

The UE 600 that has detected occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event adjusts transmission power for each BS based on an uplinkbuffer data amount of each of the plurality of BSs that are beingconnected in operation 911. At this point, the UE 600 may periodicallymonitor an uplink buffer data amount for a plurality of BSs that arebeing connected, and in the case where an uplink buffer data amount forat least one BS becomes smaller than Buffer_Threshold included in an RRCmessage, or a state where an uplink buffer data amount for at least oneBS that is being connected is smaller than Buffer_Threshold included inan RRC message is maintained for a time of Buffer-Timer included the RRCmessage, the UE 600 adjusts a ratio of transmission power initiallydistributed to each BS via a static decision operation. For anotherexample, in the case where an uplink buffer data amount for a pluralityof BSs that are being connected is greater than Buffer_Thresholdincluded in the RRC message but a channel state change amount for atleast one BS is equal to or greater than a threshold set in advance, theUE 600 may adjust a ratio of transmission power initially distributed toeach BS via a static decision operation. Specifically, the UE 600 maycontrol whole maximum transmission power P_(max) of the UE to beallocated (P_(s)=P_(max)) to only the small BS 604 or may control wholemaximum transmission power P_(max) of the UE to be allocated(P_(m)=P_(max)) to only the macro BS 602 based on a channel state ofeach BS and a data amount of an uplink buffer. Also, the UE 600 mayadjust a ratio of maximum transmission power distributed to the macro BS602 and the small BS 604. Here, a method for adjusting transmissionpower may be the same as that described in FIG. 7C.

In operation 913, the UE 600 generates a transmission power headroomreport message for each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 basedon transmission power adjusted for each of the macro BS 602 and thesmall BS 604, and transmits the generated power headroom report messagesto the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604, respectively. After that, theUE 600 returns to operation 909 to re-perform subsequent operations.

FIG. 9B is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure where a BSdistributes maximum transmission power of a UE and receives powerheadroom report in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the macro BS 602 performs initial connection withthe UE 600 using an RRC message in operation 921. At this point, the RRCmessage may include PHR related control information illustrated in Table2.

After that, the macro BS 602 may receive a channel estimated result fromUE in operation 923. At this point, the channel estimated result mayinclude at least one parameter required for distributing uplink maximumtransmission power of the UE. The macro BS 602 may calculate anadditional parameter required for distributing uplink maximumtransmission power of the UE in operation 925. For example, the macro BS602 may receive an AMBR and channel state information for each BS fromthe UE 600, and directly calculate a bandwidth and/or weight for eachBS. At this point, the macro BS 602 may calculate a bandwidth and/orweight for the small BS 604 based on a channel estimated result receivedfrom the UE 600, and calculate a bandwidth and weight via advanceinformation exchange with the small BS 604.

In operation 927, the macro BS 602 distributes maximum transmissionpower of the UE to a plurality of BSs to which the relevant US is beingconnected, that is, the macron BS 602 and the small BS 604 based on thecalculated parameter. Here, a method for distributing the maximumtransmission power may be the same as the static decision method.

After that, the macro BS 602 transmits transmission power distributioninformation to the UE in operation 929. At this point, the macro BS 602may incorporate the transmission power distribution information into anRRC message illustrated in Table 3 and transmit the same.

After that, the macro BS 602 determines whether a power headroom reportmessage is received from the UE in operation 931. When receiving a powerheadroom report message, the macro BS 602 performs uplink scheduling forthe relevant UE in operation 933. For example, the macro BS 602 mayestimate uplink maximum transmission power supportable by the UE basedon power headroom information of the UE, and perform uplink control suchas TPC, an MCS level, a bandwidth, etc. within a range that does notdepart from the estimated uplink maximum transmission power.

After that, the macro BS 602 transmits uplink scheduling information tothe UE 600 in operation 935, and returns to operation 931 to re-performsubsequent operations.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operation procedure where a BSdistributes and adjusts maximum transmission power of a UE, and the UEperforms a power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which the UEis being wirelessly connected based on this in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, the UE 600 and the macro BS 602 perform initialconnection setting in operation 1010. At this point, the macro BS 602may transmit an RRC message including PHR related control informationillustrated in Table 2 to the UE 600. After that, the UE 600 estimates achannel for each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604, and feedsback a channel estimated result to the macro BS 602 in operation 1020.For example, the channel estimated result may include an AMBR andchannel state information for each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS604.

The macro BS 602 that has received the channel estimated result from theUE 600 performs a static decision operation that distributes maximumtransmission power of the UE 600 to the macro BS 602 and the small BS604 in operation 1030. At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, themacro BS 602 may divide the maximum transmission power of the UE 600 totransmission power for the macro BS 602 and transmission power for thesmall BS 604 based on at least one of an AMBR, channel stateinformation, a bandwidth, and a weight parameter.

Meanwhile, the UE 600 detects occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event in operation 1040. That is, the UE 600 may detectoccurrence of a power headroom report trigger event based on PHR relatedcontrol information included in an RRC message illustrated in Table 2.Here, since an operation of detecting occurrence of a power headroomreport trigger event is the same as operation 630, a detaileddescription thereof is omitted.

The UE 600 that has detected occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event performs channel estimation for each of the macro BS 602and the small BS 604 to transmit the channel estimated results to themacro BS 602, and transmits a buffer state report message representing adata amount of an uplink buffer for each of the macro BS 602 and thesmall BS 604 to the macro BS 602 in operation 1050.

After that, the macro BS 602 performs an adaptive scaling operation thatadjusts an initially distributed transmission power amount in operation1060. At this point, the macro BS 602 may control whole maximumtransmission power P_(max) of the UE to be allocated (P_(s)=P_(max)) toonly the small BS 604 or may control whole maximum transmission powerP_(max) of the UE to be allocated (P_(m)=P_(max)) to only the macro BS602 based on the channel estimated results and a buffer state reportmessage received from the UE 600. Also, the macro BS 602 may adjust aratio of maximum transmission power distributed to the macro BS 602 andthe small BS 604 based on the channel estimated results and a bufferstate report message received from the UE 600.

In operation 1070, the macro BS 602 transmits information regardingtransmission power of each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604adjusted by the adaptive scaling operation to the UE 600. At this point,the information regarding transmission power of each of the macro BS 602and the small BS 604 may be transmitted via an RRC message.

In operation 1080, the UE 600 generates a transmission power headroomreport message for the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 based on thereceived transmission power information of each of the macro BS 602 andthe small BS 604. The UE 600 transmits relevant power headroom reportmessages to the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604, respectively, inoperations 1090 and 1092.

Here, for convenience, a description has been made of only initialconnection setting between the UE 600 and the macro BS 602 in operation1010. However, it is natural that initial connection setting between theUE 600 and the small BS 604 should be performed before operation 1020(before a static decision operation is performed) in order to apply theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an operation procedure where a BSdistributes and adjusts maximum transmission power of a UE, and the UEperforms a power headroom report on a plurality of BSs to which the UEis being wirelessly connected based on this in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, the UE 600 and the macro BS 602 perform initialconnection setting in operation 1110. At this point, the macro BS 602may transmit an RRC message including PHR related control informationillustrated in Table 2 to the UE 600.

When initial connection setting is completed, the UE 600 performs astatic decision operation that distributes maximum transmission power ofthe UE 600 to a macro BS 602 and a small BS 604 that are being connectedin operation 1120. At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the UE 600may distribute maximum transmission power to transmission power of themacro BS 602 and transmission power of the small BS 604 based on atleast one of an AMBR, channel state information, a bandwidth, and aweight parameter. Depending on an embodiment, the UE 600 may distributemaximum transmission power using a parameter indicated by the macro BS602 among the AMBR, the channel state information, the bandwidth, andthe weight parameter. For example, the macro BS 602 may add a parameterto be used for maximum transmission power distribution to an RRC messageillustrated in Table 2, and transmit the same to the UE 600.

After that, the UE 600 detects occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event in operation 1130. For example, the UE 600 may detectoccurrence of a power headroom report trigger event based on PHR relatedcontrol information included in an RRC message illustrated in Table 2.Here, since an operation where the UE 600 detects occurrence of a powerheadroom report trigger event is the same as operation 630, a detaileddescription thereof is omitted.

The UE 600 that has detected occurrence of a power headroom reporttrigger event performs channel estimation for each of the macro BS 602and the small BS 604 to transmit the channel estimated results to themacro BS 602, and transmits a buffer state report message representing adata amount of an uplink buffer for each of the macro BS 602 and thesmall BS 604 to the macro BS 602. Additionally, the UE 600 may transmittransmission power distribution information for the macro BS 602 and thesmall BS 604 to the macro BS 602 in operation 1140.

After that, the macro BS 602 performs an adaptive scaling operation thatadjusts an initially distributed transmission power amount in operation1150. At this point, the macro BS 602 may control whole maximumtransmission power P_(max) of the UE to be allocated (P_(s)=P_(max)) toonly the small BS 604 or may control whole maximum transmission powerP_(max) of the UE to be allocated (P_(m)=P_(max)) to only the macro BS602 based on the channel estimated results and a buffer state reportmessage received from the UE 600. Also, the macro BS 602 may adjust aratio of maximum transmission power distributed to the macro BS 602 andthe small BS 604 based on the channel estimated results and a bufferstate report message received from the UE 600.

In operation 1160, the macro BS 602 transmits information fortransmission power of each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604adjusted by the adaptive scaling operation to the UE 600. At this point,the information for transmission power of each of the macro BS 602 andthe small BS 604 may be transmitted via an RRC message.

In operation 1170, the UE 600 generates a transmission power headroomreport message for the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 based onreceived transmission power information of the macro BS 602 and thesmall BS 604. The UE 600 transmits a relevant power headroom reportmessage to each of the macro BS 602 and the small BS 604 in operations1180 and 1182.

Here, for convenience, a description has been made of initial connectionsetting between the UE 600 and the macro BS 602 in operation 1110.However, it is natural that initial connection setting between the UE600 and the small BS 604 should be performed before operation 1120(before a static decision operation is performed) in order to apply theembodiment of the present disclosure.

Additionally, in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 11, the transmissionpower headroom report message may be generated to include bothtransmission power information of a macro BS and transmission powerinformation of a small BS, and may be generated to include onlytransmission power information of one of the macro BS 602 and the smallBS 604. Also, the UE may transmit a transmission power headroom reportmessage including information for transmission power of the macro BS tothe macro BS, and transmit a transmission power headroom report messageincluding information for transmission power of the small BS to thesmall BS. Likewise, the UE may transmit a transmission power headroomreport message including information for transmission power of the smallBS to the small BS, and transmit a transmission power headroom reportmessage including information for transmission power of the macro BS tothe small BS.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a UE and a BS forming a wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the UE 1200 is connected to a plurality ofBSs 1250-1, 1250-2 to 1250-i.

Particularly, the UE 1200 may include a downlink receiver 1202, atrigger prohibit unit 1204, a power headroom report generator 1206, andan uplink transmitter 1208. Each of the BSs 1250-1 to 1250-i may includean uplink receiver 1252, an RRC generator 1254, a scheduler 1256, and adownlink transmitter 1258.

First, construction of the UE 1200 is described. The downlink receiver1202 of the UE forms a wireless connection link with the plurality ofBSs 1250-1 to 1250-i. The downlink receiver 1202 may receive an uplinkgrant representing uplink scheduling information from the plurality ofBSs 1250-1 to 1250-i, and receive an RRC message from the plurality ofBSs 1250-1 to 1250-i. Particularly, the downlink receiver 1202 mayreceive an RRC message illustrated in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3 fromat least one BS.

The trigger prohibit unit 1204 blocks triggering of a power headroomreport of the UE 1200. That is, the trigger prohibit unit 1204 may set aprohibit timer using prohibitPHR-Time included in an RRC message, andcontrol a power headroom report not to be triggered while the prohibittimer operates. When the blocking timer expires, the trigger blockingunit 1204 detects an opportunity that may trigger a power headroomreport is generated, and detects whether a power headroom report triggerevent occurs. For example, the trigger prohibit unit 1204 may extractPHR related control parameters from an RRC message, and detect whetheran event for triggering a power headroom report occurs based on theextracted parameters. For another example, the trigger prohibit unit1204 may detect at least one of a path loss change, an MPR, Scellactivation, and power back off via a MAC entity corresponding to atleast one BS among a plurality of BSs whose wireless link with the UE1200 has been formed to detect an event for triggering a power headroomreport. For another example, the trigger prohibit unit 1204 may detectoccurrence of an event for triggering a power headroom report byperiodic power headroom report or reconfiguration for each BS via a MACentity corresponding to a plurality of BSs.

When occurrence of an event for triggering a power headroom report isdetected by the trigger prohibit unit 1204, the power headroom reportgenerator 1206 may generate a power headroom report message. When apower headroom is changed by a threshold or more by uplink scheduling ofa specific BS among a plurality of BSs to which the UE 1200 is beingconnected, the power headroom report generator 1206 controls a functionfor generating a power headroom report message representing the changedpower headroom to transmit the same to at least one different BS. Also,the power headroom report generator 1206 may perform a static decisionoperation that distributes maximum transmission power of the UE 1200 toeach of the plurality of BSs that are being connected, and perform anadaptive scaling operation of adjusting transmission power distributedto each of the plurality of BSs. Here, the static decision operation andthe adaptive scaling operation may be performed as illustrated in FIGS.5A to 11. The power headroom report generator 1206 may generate a powerheadroom report message for each of the plurality of BSs based ontransmission power of each of the plurality of BSs adjusted by theadaptive scaling operation.

The uplink transmitter 1208 forms a wireless link with the plurality ofBSs 1250-1 to 1250-i. The uplink transmitter 1208 may report a channelestimated result of each of the plurality of BSs 1250-1 to 1250-i to aspecific BS, and transmit a power headroom report message to each of theplurality of BSs 1250-1 to 1250-i. Additionally, the uplink transmitter1208 may transmit a buffer state report message representing a dataamount of an uplink buffer for the plurality of BSs 1250-1 to 1250-i toa specific BS.

Next, the construction of each of the plurality of BSs 1250-1 to 1250-iis described. First, the uplink receiver 1252 forms a wirelessconnection link with the UE 1200. The uplink receiver 1252 may receive achannel estimated result for each of the plurality of BSs 1250-1 to1250-i from the UE 1200, and receive a power headroom report message forthe BS itself. Additionally, the uplink receiver 1252 may receive abuffer state report message representing a data amount of an uplinkbuffer for each of the plurality of BSs 1250-1 to 1250-i from the UE1200.

The RRC generator 1254 generates an RRC message for connection with theUE 1200. Particularly, according to the present disclosure, the RRCgenerator 1254 may generate an RRC message illustrated in Table 1, Table2, or Table 3.

The scheduler 1256 performs scheduling for the UE based on a powerheadroom report message. Also, the scheduler 1256 may perform a staticdecision operation that distributes maximum transmission power of the UE1200 to each of the plurality of BSs to which the relevant UE 1200 isbeing connected, and perform an adaptive scaling operation of adjustingtransmission power distributed to each of the plurality of BSs. Here,the static decision operation and the adaptive scaling operation may beperformed as illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 11.

The downlink transmitter 1258 forms a wireless connection link with theUE 1200. The downlink transmitter 1258 may transmit an uplink grantrepresenting a scheduling result of the scheduler 1256 for the relevantUE 1200, and transmit an RRC message generated by the RRC generator1254.

Though the downlink receiver and the uplink transmitter of each of theUE and the BS have been described separately, this is exemplary forconvenience in description, and the downlink receiver and the uplinktransmitter may be configured as one transceiver. Also, the triggerprohibit unit 1204 and the power headroom report generator 1206 of theUE may be configured in one module (for example, a power headroom reportcontroller). Also, the RRC setting unit 1254 and the scheduler 1256 ofthe BS may be configured as one module.

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to uplink power headroomreport of the UE in a wireless communication system where one UEsupports transmission links for a plurality of BSs, simultaneously.Since a separate delay does not occur in connection with transmission ofpower headroom report, performance deterioration due to this may beprevented, and uplink transmission power of the UE may be efficientlydistributed and used based on a channel state and an uplink data amountfor each of the plurality of BSs.

While the present disclosure has been shown and described with referenceto various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method performed by a user equipment (UE) in awireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving a radioresource control (RRC) message from a first base station (BS), the RRCmessage including information on a first power threshold for the firstBS, wherein the UE is configured in a dual connectivity with the firstBS and a second BS; and based on identifying that uplink resources areallocated for a cell provided by the first BS and a change of a powerparameter for the cell is greater than the first power threshold for thefirst BS, transmitting a PHR to the second BS, wherein the PHR istransmitted via a media access control (MAC) control element (CE). 2.The method of claim 1, wherein a periodic timer for the first BS startsor restarts in case of a transmission of the PHR to the second BS,wherein the RRC message further includes a value of the periodic timerfor the first BS, and wherein the value of the periodic timer for thefirst BS is indicated by a number of subframes.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the power parameter comprises a power backoff.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the change of the power parameter is obtained from apower headroom (PH) of the cell before the uplink resources areallocated.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the PHR includes powerheadroom (PH) associated with the cell provided by the first BS.
 6. Auser equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the UEcomprising: at least one transceiver; and at least one processor coupledto the at least one transceiver and configured to: receive a radioresource control (RRC) message from a first base station (BS), the RRCmessage including information on a first power threshold for the firstBS, wherein the UE is configured in a dual connectivity with the firstBS and a second BS, and based on identifying that uplink resources areallocated for a cell provided by the first BS and a change of a powerparameter for the cell is greater than the first power threshold for thefirst BS, transmit a PHR to the second BS, wherein the PHR istransmitted via a media access control (MAC) control element (CE). 7.The UE of claim 6, wherein a periodic timer for the first BS starts orrestarts in case of a transmission of the PHR to the second BS, whereinthe RRC message further includes a value of the periodic timer for thefirst BS, and wherein the value of the periodic timer for the first BSis indicated by a number of subframes.
 8. The UE of claim 6, wherein thepower parameter comprises a power backoff.
 9. The UE of claim 6, whereinthe change of the power parameter is obtained from a power headroom (PH)of the cell before the uplink resources are allocated.
 10. The UE ofclaim 6, wherein the PHR includes power headroom (PH) associated withthe cell provided by the first BS.
 11. A method performed by a firstbase station (BS), the method comprising: transmitting, to a userequipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) message from a first basestation (BS), the RRC message including information on a first powerthreshold for the first BS, wherein the UE is configured in a dualconnectivity with the first BS and a second BS; and allocating uplinkresources for a cell provided by the first BS to the UE, wherein theuplink resources and a change of a power parameter for the cell beinggreater than the first power threshold for the first BS are used totrigger to a PHR to the second BS via a media access control (MAC)control element (CE).
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein a periodictimer for the first BS starts or restarts in case of a transmission ofthe PHR to the second BS from the UE, wherein the RRC message furtherincludes a value of the periodic timer for the first BS, and wherein thevalue of the periodic timer for the first BS is indicated by a number ofsubframes.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the power parametercomprises a power backoff.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein thechange of the power parameter is obtained from a power headroom (PH) ofthe cell before the uplink resources are allocated.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the PHR includes power headroom (PH) associated withthe cell provided by the first BS.
 16. A first base station (BS),comprising: at least one transceiver; and at least one processor coupledto the at least one transceiver and configured to: transmit, to a userequipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) message includinginformation on a first power threshold for the first BS, wherein the UEis configured in a dual connectivity with the first BS and a second BS,and allocate uplink resources for a cell provided by the first BS to theUE, wherein the uplink resources and a change of a power parameter forthe cell being greater than the first power threshold for the first BSare used to trigger to a PHR to the second BS via a media access control(MAC) control element (CE).
 17. The first BS of claim 16, wherein aperiodic timer for the first BS starts or restarts in case of atransmission of the PHR to the second BS from the UE, wherein the RRCmessage further includes a value of the periodic timer for the first BS,and wherein the value of the periodic timer for the first BS isindicated by a number of subframes.
 18. The first BS of claim 16,wherein the power parameter comprises a power backoff.
 19. The first BSof claim 16, wherein the change of the power parameter is obtained froma power headroom (PH) of the cell before the uplink resources areallocated.
 20. The first BS of claim 16, wherein the PHR includes powerheadroom (PH) associated with the cell provided by the first BS.